A time to unite for reform

We have to be prepared to embrace new ways of providing services – using partnerships, new technologies, and rethinking the service-delivery model in each city department.

Our recovery plan should benefit both taxpayers and city employees. That’s why I propose to create a “Share-in-Savings” Incentive Pool for city employees who could receive “non-pensionable” payments to augment their take-home pay in the final two years of the plan, assuming that citywide cost savings targets are met.

The Roadmap calls for reforms to produce cost savings of over $75 million next fiscal year, and reduces projected costs for the city’s pension and retiree health care liabilities by more than $700 million over five years.

We can replace the current deficits in the city’s financial outlook with surpluses in each of the five years – surpluses that can be used to restore city services we have lost over the past five years.

I feel that the reforms laid out in the Roadmap to Recovery can serve as a starting point for a thoughtful, creative, and respectful civic discussion.

No matter how we get there, San Diegans want to arrive at the same destination: to make city government work again. We just need to settle on – and commit to – a clear roadmap.

DeMaio is a member of the San Diego City Council, representing the 5th District communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Sabre Springs, San Pasqual, Scripps Ranch and Sorrento Mesa.